COURSE SYLLABUS
Psychology 1: Introduction to Psychology
Extended Spring 2013: Section 7746
Instructor: Robin B. Davidson, Ph.D.
Psychology 1, Section
Extended Spring 2013
Time: Mon, Tues, Wed. Thurs., 8:00am – 10:15am
Location: C-421
Instructor: Robin B. Davidson, Ph.D.
Email: rbdavidson@pasadena.edu
Phone: For messages only: (626) 585-7248
Office Hours: Vary – see attached schedule - and
by appointment
Office: C-417
Mailbox: Social Sciences Office C321
Required Textbook: Wade, C. and Tavris, C. (2012). Invitation to Psychology. Fifth Edition. Prentice Hall:
Boston. Note: I will frequently hand out my PowerPoint presentations and other materials in class. You must be
present to obtain them. I will also occasionally email you resources to help you in your studies.
Course Description: This course will introduce you to the fundamental issues, history, principles, theories, and
research approaches in the field of psychology. It covers a broad range of psychological topics to provide
students with a solid overview of the field. Students will read about, hear lectures, discuss, analyze, write
about, participate in class exercises and watch state of the art videos on major psychological facts, research
and current issues. Topics include human development across the lifespan, intelligence, language, abnormal
behavior, mental illness, neurological and biological processes, emotion, stress and consciousness, to name
some. The course will provide a range of perspectives to understanding behavior and experience.
Student Learning Outcomes (What you should get out of this class):
 Understand the major psychological approaches to the study of behavior and mental processes
 Understand that that explaining behavior is multi-faceted and multi-level – there’s never a simple
explanation
 Become familiar with the terminologies, principles, and theories of the field and the contributions of
major figures
 Gain knowledge of major research findings and their significance
 Be able to analyze core issues, controversies, research and theories of psychology
 Learn, retain and understand the scientific methodology of psychology and its limitations
 Learn how to find and analyze the various psychological resources
 Apply psychological research findings to everyday life
 Become more interested in the study of behavior and mental processes and how it relates to other
coursework
My Teaching Philosophy
 Stimulate students to think critically and analytically as they grasp scientific principles, general
concepts, theories and issues.
 Encourage students to think about “what could be”; to consider what more can be done to further
increase understanding of issues and topics.
 Help students relate psychological concepts to the real world whenever possible.
 Inspire students with energy and passion for psychology.
 Use methods to help students learn, retain and analyze information, including providing class time for
reflection on earlier course content, encouraging questions, and bringing in unique and memorable
opportunities for learning.
 Expect students to take responsibility for their own learning and academic performance, while helping
them connect with the resources that will support them in doing so.
Housekeeping and Policies:
 Be considerate: Your cell phone (and beepers, etc.) must be turned off – that will keep you more
focused and not disturb your fellow students or the instructor. No electronic devices allowed on exam
days.
 Attendance: Plan on attending every class – attendance is mandatory and a crucial part of your grade –
Attendance means showing up awake and alert and staying that way throughout the class. Every
unexcused absence beyond two will lower your grade by 5 percentage points, which means you could
fail the class for poor attendance. Classroom participation, videos and exercises are important to
helping you learn concepts and apply them, and I prefer (and students generally do as well) an
interactive classroom experience rather than one in which the instructor lectures at you the full time.
 Reading Assignments: Complete reading assignments before you come to class – have questions,
issues, ideas/thoughts ready when you get here each morning. You will also be assigned videos to view
and graded assignments to help you learn course content.
 Tests/Papers: there will be 2 exams (mid-term and final) and 2 quizzes. See the Grading section for
the specifics. Please note: if you have a disability and would like to request accommodation, please see
me as soon as possible. Finally, as listed on the schedule, bring 4 green scantrons and 3 blue books to
class on Mon. May 20 (worth 5 points). Write your name on your bluebooks.
 Extra Credit. During the second week of classes, I will provide you with extra credit assignment choices.
You can earn up to 15 extra credit points.
 Plagiarism and Cheating - Keeping it real: It is critical you understand what plagiarism is (we will
discuss this when we discuss term papers in a couple of weeks) and avoid it. I sincerely hope no
students will demonstrate cheating and plagiarism of any kind - they will not be tolerated and will
result in a “0” on the impacted assignment or test and potentially a fail of the class along with a note
on your permanent academic record. During the 3rd week, I will provide you a great article for college
students that clearly outlines what is and what is not plagiarism. It has great examples.
 Academic support/resources: The campus has many resources for you – both academic and otherwise
– take advantage of them! They include:
o Social Sciences Learning Center, C-3 - has computers, books, tons of other resources and FREE
TUTORING!
o The PCC Library has FREE 24/7 online tutoring – Smarthinking Program
http://www.pasadena.edu/smarthinking/
o Campus Learning Assistance Center, Building D,
http://www.pasadena.edu/studentservices/lac/
o Psychological support/counseling http://www.pasadena.edu/studentservices/psychservices/
o I will provide you with this article and we will discuss it:
How to Survive -- and Excel in -- Your College Years - by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
http://www.quintcareers.com/first-year_success.html
Grading
Item
Points Each
Total
Exams - 2
Midterm 75; Final Exam: 175
225
Percentage of
Final Grade
38%
Term Paper
100
100
17%
Quizzes - 2
40 points each
80
13%
Class activities and
assignments
Class participation and
attendance
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE
125
125
21%
70
70
12%
600
100%
Final grades will be assigned as follows:
90% and higher, or 537+ points = A
80-89%, or 477 – 536 points = B
70-79% or 417 – 477 points = C
55-69% or 327 – 416 points = D
54% and below, or 426 points and lower = F
Term Paper
Due June 12 at 8:00am (physically in class and electronically): 4-5 pages, 12 point font, double-spaced, at
least .75 inch margins. You will select a psychological disorder of interest to you from a list I provide to
write your term paper about. I will present you with 6 to 8 choices and you submit your top 3 preferences
to me. I will assign students to groups based on their preferences. You will then find a movie, play or book
in which the assigned psychological disorder played a significant role in the plot or story. In the past
students have selected movies like Silver Linings Playbook (bipolar disorder), A Beautiful Mind
(schizophrenia), Rain Man (autism), etc. I recommend you find a book or film that is not one of these.
Once you have been assigned the disorder and have selected your movie or book, you will then need to
focus on a specific issue or aspect of the disease (some examples: effective treatment, nature of
hallucinations, impact on relationships, etc.). You will write your own paper, but you will be able to get the
support of others who are in your disorders group (class time will is set aside for you to meet with your
group), with whom you will do a presentation on the disorder towards the end of the semester.
You will conduct a simple review of the literature on the psychological disorder you chose and write a
paper that discusses how well the book/movie portrayed the issue you are focusing on. You will be graded
primarily on your analysis of that, which should be based on evidence from scholarly research and issue
papers. We will discuss the term paper more the second week of class, and you will be guided to the PCC
Library’s psycharticles database – there are librarians and other staff there who can be very helpful to you.
Instructor Office Hours:
Tuesdays: 5:15pm
Thursdays: 10:15am
And by appointment – please ask!
Schedule
Please note: The exact dates and topics may shift a bit during the semester. The class will be notified prior to
any changes.
CHAPTER Notes
DATE
TOPIC
Mon. May 13
Review of syllabus, term paper
Note – first Quiz is 5/22!
Overview of the course content
Campus Resources
Surviving College Handout
What is Psychology? An overview
Tues. May 14
What is Psychology - continued
1
Please have read the entire
What is the APA?
chapter by TODAY.
Special Focus on Types of Research
Calendaring exercise – building your time
management skills and discussion of studying
for exams
Wed. May 15 + Research Methods Group Activity
2
pp 39 – 69
Thurs. May 16
Theories of Personality – Overview of major
theories – historical and modern
Term paper assignments
Detailed instructions for term paper
made on Thurs?
Influences on Personality
Classmate Info Exchange Exercise
Term Paper Disorders Selection Sheet
Mon. May 20
Lifespan Development:
3
pp 72 - 97
Overview of major theories/approaches
Early child development
u
Infant perception of emotion
Adolescent Development
Due: Turn in top 3 choices
Gender Identity & Identity Development
term paper disorders
The Adolescent Brain – Comparisons
Tues. May 21
Wed. May 22 +
Thurs. May 23
Mon., May 27
Tues., May 28
Lifespan Development: continued
Adult Development and Aging
Memory, enhancing memory
Alzheimers Disease
Term Paper Group Assignments Made
Plagiarism Handout review
Neurons & Hormones
In class interactive video activity
The Brain – part 1
QUIZ #1 0n 5/22
NO CLASS – MEMORIAL DAY
The Brain – part 2
Applications:
Parkinson’s Disease
Child/adolescent Brain Development
Body Rhythms
3
pp 98 – 101
4
pp 112 – 124
Worksheets due 5/22
pp 124 – 145; study for quiz
4
Articles and video
assignment
5
pp. 147 - 153
Wed. May 29 &
Thur. May 30
Drugs and Addiction
Term paper work groups
5
pp 167 – 177
Mon. June 3
MID-TERM EXAM
Sensation & Perception: Vision & Hearing
Sensation/Perception Jeopardy Game
6
pp 181 – 202
Tues. June 4
Other senses & perception of emotion
Infant perception of facial information and
emotional cues – amazing videos!
Impact of Child Abuse on Children’s perception
of ambiguous information
Intelligence: Cognition and Thinking
Language & IQ Testing
Defining Intelligence
Memory
Eye Witness Memories
Term paper work groups
Learning & Conditioning
Conditioning & Punishment
Social Cognitive Learning
QUIZ #2
Behavior in Social & Cultural Context:
Attitude, Punishment
Social Norms and the Zimbardo Stanford Study
Term paper workgroups
Stress and Emotion
6
pp 202 - 221
7
pp 223-224 & 234-261
DUE: Term paper outline
8
All, pp 270+ most important
9
pp 299 – 320
pp 321 – 327
EXTRA CREDITS DUE
10
Read entire chapter
13
Read only pp 447 - 459
14
11
Read only pp 474 - 488
Read all
TERM PAPERS DUE 6/12
Wed. June 5
Thurs. June 6
Mon. June 10
Tues. June 11
Wed. June 12
Human Sexuality
Thurs. June 13 & Psychological Disorders: Types/Classification
Mon. June 17
& Assessment/Diagnosis
Stress & PTSD
Dual Diagnosis
Term Paper Group Presentations
Tues. June 18 & Approaches to Treatment
Wed. June 19
Term Paper Group Presentations
Review for Final Exam
Thurs. June 20
FINAL EXAM
12
Your Name __________________________________________________
Psychological Disorders for Term Papers
Due May 20
Please put a 1, 2 and a 3 by each of your top 3 choices out of the 9 listed below. Students will
be placed in groups of 5 people based on their preferences. I will do my best to put you in your
top choice, but groups need to be balanced out for size. There will likely be 6 or 7 groups. You
will write your own term paper and no two people in the same group can use the same movie
or book. You and your team will support each other in researching and writing your papers
and together make a presentation on the disorder to class.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Phobias
Schizophrenia
Bipolar Disorder (manic-depression)
Unipolar Depression
Autism
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
Personality Disorder (including “split personality” or Dissociative or Multiple Personality
Disorder and Social
Memory/Amnesia and related disorders (e.g., Alzheimers).